Dodoma ("it has sunk") is the capital city  of Tanzania. This is a country on the continent of Africa. An administrative centre for the Dodoma region. Dodoma has been the capital of Tanzania since 1996.

This is the time Dar es Salaam relinquished this status, but retained its status as the commercial capital of the country. Dodoma is situated in eastern Africa, about 480 km inland from the Indian Ocean.

The city is a market centre for peanuts (groundnuts), castor beans, sunflower seeds, gum, corn (maize), rice, wheat, coffee, tea, tobacco, and sorghum.

Coffee and sisal are grown in the northern part of the region, and cattle raring also occur. Industries include wood and furniture, beverages, processed food, milled rice and flour, soap, and oil.

The Municipality of Dodoma is located at the south eastern end of the Tanzania Central Plateau at an elevation of 1,200 metres above sea level.

The town is located at the geographical centre of the country on the vital Central Railway line; and on major crossroad of the National East West trunk road and the famous north to south Cape to Cairo Great North Road, which passes in Tanzania through Mbeya, Iringa, Dodoma, Babati and Arusha.

The Location
The town is 465 kilometers from Dar-es-Salaam, and 425 kilometers from Arusha situated at 6o south of the Equator. The total area earmarked for the Capital Development Area is 276,910 hectares, radiating 30-40 kilometers in each direction from the present centre of the town.

The area involved includes the area earmarked for urbanization to a population of 1,000,000; future international Airport, underground water catchment area; agriculture and livestock grazing area, afforestation and conservation areas; and other necessary institutional and service facilities.

The Climate
The Dodoma region is characterized by broad upland plains which are part of East African‘s Central Plateau. The Plains shelve gently down to mbuga swamps and separated by ranges of hills and punctuated by inselbergs, prominent, isolated rock outcrops.

In their natural state, the plains are marked by open grassland with little or no tree or bush cover. Due to the erratic nature of the rains and strong radiant heat of the sun, much of the grass is sparse, except in the low lying areas.

Most common, however, are wooded grassland and bushland with thickets. These types of ground cover represent the majority in Dodoma area. In many areas they are typified by groups of enormous baobab trees.

The bush tends to be leafless and drab in the dry season, but springs to luxuriant life during the rains when the whole countryside turns a brilliant green. Woodlands form the remainder of the area, with the heaviest concentrations on the hills of the region.

The Dodoma hills rise about 400 meters above the general level of plans. They are of great charm, with gentle valleys dividing them, such as Ntyuka and Luaha valleys.

Bounding the northerly plain to the North east are the more mountainous Hombolo Hills, rising 900 meters above the plan. From the site of the capital these appear as a massive wall. This encompasses the plain, fascinating in their changing moods and colors